Mona Lisa Smile Speedwell

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2 Feet

Mature Spread

2 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Veronica Mona Lisa Smile is a hardworking speedwell that adds a splash of color wherever it’s needed. It blooms earlier than other speedwells with tall spikes of magenta flowers. The blooming continues all summer and provides a great source of cut flowers. It has medium-green, narrow leaves that look attractive even without the flowers.

Mona Lisa Smile has a rounded, clumping form and grows to about 2 feet high and wide. It is cold resistant to zone 4 and dies back over the winter. It adapts well to most soil conditions and is resistant to many pests and diseases, including black spot, powdery mildew and root rot. It attracts hummingbirds and bees, but is not especially palatable to rabbits or deer. Use it as a “thriller” in container combinations, or add it to a perennial bed to contrast daisy-like flowers, such as rudbeckia and coneflowers. 

Mona Lisa Smile Speedwell Care

Mona Lisa Smile prefers to grow in full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. It is not particular about soil texture or pH, as long as the soil drains well. Water it regularly during the first growing season to help the roots settle in. Let it dry out between waterings. Fertilize in the spring with a slow-release formula that will increase its blooming potential.

Cut back spent flowers to encourage reblooming all summer. You can also cut back the foliage after flowering to clean up the plant and encourage the growth of fresh leaves.

Mona Lisa Smile Speedwell Spacing

For growing Mona Lisa Smile in large groups, space each plant approximately 18 inches apart. When growing this speedwell in a pot, select a container at least 18 inches in diameter and refresh the potting medium each spring.